Book Review: "Before She Was Helen" by Caroline B. Cooney

You never know just what secrets people are living with. Or so Caroline B. Cooney's latest novel, Before She Was Helen, tries to tell us.

Clemmie lives a fairly uneventful life in a retirement community in South Carolina. When checking on a neighbor one day, she notices a beautiful glass sculpture unlike anything she’s ever seen. Curious about what it is, she sends a picture of it to her grandnephew and grandniece.

Apparently this sculpture is actually a rig for smoking pot. When her grandnephew shares the picture of the rig on the internet, it turns out there’s a story behind this object—and it was stolen. It’s not long before the owner wants to track down Clemmie and get his rig back.

What Clemmie doesn’t realize is that her carefully crafted life is about to come crashing down around her. She’s been living a secret life for more than 50 years, and apparently her secrets are about to be revealed. And she’s not the only one with secrets—turns out her fellow neighbors have some things to hide, too.

I was excited to read Before She Was Helen because I love when older characters aren’t portrayed as burdens or wise sages, but flawed, complex people. But there were so many competing storylines in this book as well as multiple timelines, that it was hard to keep track of who was doing what, who had done what in their past, and what was happening. (It also made it difficult to find sympathy for these characters.)

I read this as a buddy read and had a great discussion with some friends. We agreed the book needs some trigger warnings for rape, assault, violence, etc. We also agreed that the ending was so rushed (and incomplete) that there were so many unanswered questions and things that didn't quite make sense.

Oh well! On to the next!!

Book Review: "Destiny" by D.D. Larsen

The first book in D.D. Larsen's Academy series, Destiny, is a sexy, mysterious combination of romance, family secrets, and some magical elements.

At age 18, Jamie fled her small Colorado hometown, feeling stifled and needing to make a fresh start. She cut all ties to her friends, figuring it was easier that way than feeling the pull of home. After college she landed a job with a top biotech company and started to pursue her dreams.

Now, seven years later, her career has fallen apart and her last romantic relationship crashed and burned as well, so she decides it’s time to go home. While it’s good to see her parents, she quickly finds out it’s hard work to rebuild relationships with people you’ve neglected for so long.

Not long after her return home, she meets Wren, a ruggedly handsome park ranger with whom she feels an immediate, intense connection. He always seems to be around when she is in need of help, but otherwise he’s brooding and pushing Jamie away.

Meanwhile, people in her town are reportedly seeing wolves for the first time, and everyone is worried. And in a few cases, some creatures are harming people. Are the wolves to blame? Why does Jamie keep having dreams in which wolves appear, even one where she is a wolf? Is she safe, or is she in danger?

Little by little, Jamie realizes her town—and her family—is full of secrets, secrets of epic and almost magical proportions. She is drawn into a world she had never imagined, one that will change her life and her destiny.

This was a really fascinating read, with a brooding Twilight-esque vibe, although I don’t mean that in a negative way. Destiny had an interesting mix of romance and fantasy and even a little bit of the paranormal, and this was so compulsively readable. Can’t wait for Book 2 of the series!!

Kate Rock Book Tours and D.D. Larsen invited me on the tour for the book and provided me a complimentary advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Destiny publishes 4/20!!

Book Review: "The Hunting Wives" by May Cobb

Is it feeling soapy, steamy, and dramatic in here or is it just me? No, it's May Cobb's new book, The Hunting Wives.

Thanks to my friend Phil for buddy reading this one with me. As with our last buddy read, I think our discussion was even better than the book itself!

Sophie was a high-powered magazine editor in Chicago, trying to balance a career and raise a young son with her husband, Graham, when she felt they needed a simpler life. She and Graham decide to move to the small Texas town of Mapleton, where Sophie spent her last two years of high school before going away to college.

Of course, small-town life is now incredibly boring, and Sophie longs for some excitement. It’s not long before she is pulled into the orbit of Margot, a glamorous, wealthy socialite, and her group of friends. Sophie is excited to join their secret Friday night group for skeet shooting, but she quickly finds out that the women, with Margot as their ringleader, do more than just shooting. Some weeks they decide to go to out-of-the-way bars and flirt with men...and that’s just the start.

Sophie finds herself becoming increasingly obsessed with Margot and seeking her approval. When she lavishes her attention on Sophie and draws her into her web of illicit encounters, Sophie feels tantalized and alive, but she knows everything is sliding out of control. And when a young woman winds up dead, Sophie quickly realizes how dangerous loyalty and jealousy can be.

The Hunting Wives definitely had a Desperate Housewives or Real Housewives feel to it, and that was the element I enjoyed the most. Even the partying and flirting and hookups were deliciously soapy (although some creeped me out until I realized what the age of consent is in Texas).

The thing is, this book is billed as a thriller and it really isn’t. There are mystery elements that I thought were the weaker link in the book, because that was where the plot seemed to drag a little for me, and there were a few loose ends that never got resolved.

But all in all, this was a fun read, and as someone who grew up with soap operas (and still tunes in from time to time), I enjoyed the vibe.

The book will be released 5/18!

Book Review: "The Sky Blues" by Robbie Couch

The Sky Blues is a gorgeous, emotional book about chosen family, friendship, and love.

God, I loved this book. Robbie Couch has created a beautiful, unforgettable story with an incredibly diverse group of characters, and I’m so glad I got to buddy read it with a friend of mine.

It’s almost time for high school graduation. While Sky is worried whether he’ll have enough money to pay for community college since his religious mother kicked him out of the house once he came out to her as gay, his biggest focus is prom. He has decided to ask his crush, Ali, to prom—even though he’s not sure if Ali is into guys. He and his best friend, Bree, are brainstorming the best—and even some of the worst—promposal ideas.

When Sky’s plans are somehow broadcast to the entire school along with homophobic and racist messages, he’d like to just retreat into himself. But he quickly discovers that his friends and classmates are with him every step of the way—and want him to stand up for himself, so they can stand up with him.

As the end of the school year draws closer, Sky makes some unexpected discoveries about his long-deceased father, and realizes that sometimes the things you want and need most are right in front of you.

The Sky Blues gave me all the feels. My mom died when I was a baby so I identified with Sky’s feelings, and I, too, had plans for an event during high school (a party, not prom) ruined by some homophobic bullies. (And that was pre-internet, so they had to work HARD to ruin you then!)

I’m so grateful today’s youth have books like The Sky Blues and authors like Robbie Couch. Can’t wait to see what’s next in Couch’s career!!

Book Review: "People We Meet on Vacation" by Emily Henry

Emily Henry's upcoming rom-com, People We Meet on Vacation, is funny, emotional, romantic, and thought-provoking—this book hit me on all fronts.

Poppy and Alex met during college orientation. Ironically, while they met in Chicago, they found out they were from neighboring small towns in Ohio. But Poppy couldn’t wait to flee her hometown (although she loves her family) while Alex likes his and plans to return after graduation.

The two couldn’t be more opposite. Poppy embraces everything with gusto while Alex is more reserved; Poppy dresses vibrantly while Alex is all about the pressed khakis, for every occasion. But somehow they hit it off and build an intense friendship through college and beyond.

Poppy becomes a travel blogger and social media influencer, known for traveling cheaply. She finds a willing travel partner in Alex, and they take a trip each summer, no matter where they are in their lives or relationships with others. And while Poppy definitely feels more for Alex than friendship, she knows they want different things out of life, so she's willing to keep everything in the friend zone.

Two years ago, everything fell apart during a trip to Croatia and they’ve not spoken since. Now a writer for a high-end travel magazine, Poppy has achieved her career dreams, but she’s not happy. She realizes she hasn’t been happy since she and Alex stopped talking. So she sees if he’d be willing to take one more trip together.

Surprisingly, Alex agrees, so Poppy is determined to try and recapture the magic of their friendship. Both have changed in two years, but have their feelings changed? Is that line between friendship and love still dangerously tempting to cross? Would they even work as a couple?

Much as she did in her terrific debut, Beach Read (one of my favorite books from last year), Henry creates a multi-layered rom-com that delivers so much more. There’s some real emotional complexity here and I truly felt seen more than a few times in some of their issues and emotions. I just love the way she writes!!

What a terrific book, and it definitely lived up to the hype for me. People We Meet on Vacation will be published 5/11!

Book Review: "Every Vow You Break" by Peter Swanson

One of the core messages of Peter Swanson's newest thriller, Every Vow You Break, is pretty simple: lying gets you every time.

I have loved a number of Swanson’s thrillers, so I was eagerly anticipating his newest one. But wow, this one just didn’t work for me in the slightest.

Abigail is set to marry Bruce, a wealthy man a few years older than she is. She never thought she’d marry someone with that much money, but that’s not what attracted her to him—it’s his stability.

While in California for her bachelorette party, she meets a man and winds up spending the night with him. They gave each other fake names and she chalked it up as one last fling, nothing to mention to Bruce. And then the guy shows up in New York, claiming he felt something for Abigail and believes she felt the same.

How can she get rid of this guy without confessing her infidelity to Bruce, who prizes fidelity above almost everything? And how did this guy find her in the first place? His reappearance in her life sets off a chain of events that has her questioning whom she can trust, and what is real and what is her imagination.

I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll stop the plot summary at this point. I felt like the setup of the book took a lot longer than it needed to—I was more than 100 pages in and I was wondering when everything would get going—and while the pace definitely picked up, so did the crazy factor. I’m not really good with suspending my disbelief in thrillers and I felt parts of this were preposterous.

A few people whose opinions I often agree with really loved this book, so don’t let my review dissuade you. I will still read Swanson’s next book and hope it’s more like the previous ones of his I’ve loved.

William Morrow Books provided me with a complimentary copy of Every Vow You Break in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Book Review: "Twice Shy" by Sarah Hogle

Twice Shy, the new rom-com by Sarah Hogle, is a sweet book which tackles some emotional issues and warms the heart.

(Fans of 80s music, I couldn’t get the song “Once Bitten Twice Shy” by Great White out of my head when reading this. You’re welcome.)

Maybell is a dreamer, because her dreams are better than the reality she’s living. She’s lived out romantic scenarios with her dream man in her head many times, but at the end of the day, she’s still stuck in a job she hates and she’s not treated well by anyone.

When she finds out she’s inherited a house in the Tennessee mountains from her Great-Aunt Violet, she thinks she may have hit the jackpot. But of course there’s a catch—two of them, actually.

First, the house should be condemned. The glorious house Maybell remembers from childhood is falling apart and is filled from top to bottom with things her aunt hoarded. And second, apparently Violet also left the house to her groundskeeper, Wesley. Wesley isn’t happy about sharing this inheritance with Maybell, and he has very different ideas about what to do with the property.

Maybell has nowhere else to go, so can they peacefully coexist and come to some agreement on what to do? And just maybe, will Wesley stop hating her? (Rom-com fans, what do you think?)

Twice Shy took a while to get going but once it did, it was sweet. I liked the way it dealt with social anxiety and I liked what happened when the characters—especially Wesley—let their guard down. Distinguishing Maybell’s dreams from reality was a bit confusing at times, but you could see why she preferred dreams.

I loved Hogle’s first book, You Deserve Each Other, so I’m becoming a real fan!!